Yan Jingshu’s words were not unknown to Xie Shi. However, Yan Jingyu had long been deeply in love with Mu Tingyuan, vowing to marry no one else. Moreover, Mu Tingyuan was the descendant of the Duke of Zhenguo and the Eldest Princess. Such a family background—if they could secure him as a son-in-law—would not only fulfill Yan Jingyu’s lifelong wish but also resolve Xie Shi’s current predicament. It would be the best possible outcome.
Furthermore, even if Mu Tingyuan had no interest in Yan Jingyu now, Xie Shi had faith in her daughter. Once the two were married and spent their days together, Mu Tingyuan would inevitably come to recognize her daughter’s virtues. It was only a matter of time before affection followed. But there was no need for Yan Jingshu to know any of this.
“This has nothing to do with you. All you need to do is persuade the Dowager Lady to propose the marriage at the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence,” Xie Shi said coldly. Then she added, “And don’t think about silencing me. Since I’ve told you this, I’ve naturally made preparations. If any unfavorable rumors about me spread after today, within three days, everyone will know that you’re nothing but an imposter, a bastard who's occupying a magpie’s nest. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and try.”
[鸠占鹊巢 (jiū zhàn què cháo): lit. a cuckoo occupying a magpie’s nest; fig. an imposter taking another’s place]
Yan Jingshu said nothing more. He gave Xie Shi a deep look, then turned and left the main hall. Stepping outside, the warm afternoon sunlight spilled over him, yet it couldn’t dispel the chill rising in his heart.
“Second Young Master, you’ve finally come out. Let this old servant help you back,” An Momo’s gentle, smiling voice suddenly rang out.
Yan Jingshu looked at her in surprise. “An Momo, why are you here?”
“It’s the Dowager Lady. She also wanted to hear what Madam said to you, so she specially ordered this servant to wait here and invite you over.”
Yan Jingshu stiffened, thinking of Xie Shi’s words and his true origins. For a moment, he didn’t dare to face the Dowager Lady.
An Momo seemed not to notice his unease and continued cheerfully, “Second Young Master, the Dowager Lady said that Madam has been ill for many days and might not be in her right mind. She told me to remind you not to take anything Madam says to heart. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask the Dowager Lady directly.”
“Grandmother…” Suddenly learning the truth of his birth, Yan Jingshu was filled with panic and confusion. But An Momo’s words, delivered on behalf of the Dowager Lady, poured over his heart like warm water, driving away the cold.
Calming down, Yan Jingshu knew he still had to speak to his grandmother about this. It was better for him to tell her himself now than for her to hear it unprepared from someone else later. As for whether she would still acknowledge him afterward, he was willing to accept whatever came.
With this resolve, Yan Jingshu followed An Momo to Rong’an Courtyard.
The Dowager Lady had been waiting for some time. Seeing Yan Jingshu’s pale complexion, she frowned slightly. “What did your mother say to you?”
Instead of answering, Yan Jingshu walked up to her and knelt. The Dowager Lady’s frown deepened. “What is the meaning of this?” She motioned for An Momo to help him up.
This time, Yan Jingshu did not obey. Gently shaking off An Momo, he remained kneeling. Though it was difficult, he repeated every word Xie Shi had said—her plans, her threats—verbatim, all while keeping his head lowered, unable to meet the Dowager Lady’s eyes.
When he finished, the room was so silent one could hear a pin drop. After a long pause, the Dowager Lady finally spoke, but her tone was not the shock or anger Yan Jingshu had expected. Instead, it carried the calm understanding of someone who already knew. “So she told you? It seems she’s truly at her wit’s end, with no other options left.”
“Grandmother—” Yan Jingshu’s head snapped up, his wide eyes filled with disbelief. Had he heard correctly? Did his grandmother already know he wasn’t of Yan blood?
As if reading his thoughts, the Dowager Lady confirmed it plainly, her tone dismissive. “Enough, get up. I’ve known for a long time. It’s not a big deal, no need for such dramatics.”
Dazed, Yan Jingshu let An Momo help him to his feet. The sudden turn of events left him stunned. The Dowager Lady’s reaction was so far from what he had imagined that he didn’t know how to respond.
The Dowager Lady pulled Yan Jingshu to sit beside her and began recounting the past. “Back then, your elder brother was born prematurely, and your mother’s health suffered. Later, she had another miscarriage, which damaged her constitution. She should have rested and recuperated for years, but before long, she was pregnant again. Though she took every precaution, the pregnancy was fraught with difficulty, nearly lost several times.”
“I’d privately consulted the imperial physician, who said even if she carried the child to term, it would be hard to raise. But before the birth, your maternal grandfather fell gravely ill. Your mother returned to her family home to visit him and went into premature labor there. By the time your father and I arrived at the Xie residence, we saw you lying beside your mother.”
“Though you were a shuang’er, your father doted on you all the same, never minding it. At the time, I had my doubts, but since your mother had delivered safely and you were healthy, I didn’t dwell on it. However, after returning home, though your mother acted normally in front of your father and me, in private, she treated you with complete indifference.”
“She thought that after years of managing the household, everything was under her control. But she couldn’t hide it from me. Back then, I began to suspect that her premature labor during that visit wasn’t as simple as it seemed. As you grew older, your striking dissimilarity to your father and your mother’s attitude made the truth clear.”
Hearing this, Yan Jingshu finally understood everything. But thinking of the Dowager Lady’s unwavering love for him over the years, his eyes reddened. “Grandmother… if you knew, then why… why…”
He didn’t need to finish. The Dowager Lady understood and smiled kindly. “Blood ties matter, but the bonds forged through real companionship matter more. You’ve always been filial, treating me as your true grandmother. How could I not acknowledge you as my grandson? Besides, there’s something you should know—your father was adopted from the Yan clan, not my own flesh and blood. In this entire ducal household, there isn’t a single person connected to me by blood. Why would I care about such things?”
The Dowager Lady’s words completely soothed Yan Jingshu’s fears. What had seemed like an irreversible crisis had turned into unexpected relief. Even if he wasn’t the true Second Young Master of the Duke of Anguo’s household, he was still his grandmother’s grandson. His true origins would bring her no harm. With this realization, Yan Jingshu finally let go of the weight in his heart.
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